2024-08-02 22:03:39
Manchester City has maintained its dominance in the English Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team won the title in the last season as well. However, at the end of the season, a hefty fine has to be paid. The English club has been fined 31 crore rupees for starting the match late. The Premier League authorities confirmed the matter in a press release.
According to the press release, City delayed the start of the game in the first half and second half of the match for two consecutive seasons. Too many times! In the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the Premier League club started playing after a total of 22 overtimes. Due to which they have been fined 2 million 90 thousand pounds. In Bangladeshi currency, the amount of which is more than 31 crore 50 lakh taka.
According to the notice, the league authorities and Manchester City have come to an agreement regarding the penalty for several incidents of delay in the start of the first half and second half. City have breached section L33 of the Premier League Act. The relevant clause provides for penalties for ‘delaying the kick-off (start of the match) and re-start (usually the start of the second half) without reasonable cause.
Most of City’s delays in those two seasons were between one and two minutes. The longest delay is a match against West Ham at the Etihad in the 2023–24 season. The game started 2 minutes 46 seconds late that day. It was the last day of the Premier League season.
Interestingly, City have won the Premier League in the last four years, including the two seasons under penalty. The club accepted the punishment by admitting responsibility for the delay in the start of the game. As a result, they did not have to face any trouble.